If Meditation Makes You Grind Your Teeth, Don't Do It

If meditation makes you grind your teeth, don't do it. That's practicing misery, not mindfulness. Too many people believe that meditation is about sitting down and forcing yourself not to have thoughts.

And then inevitably failing in the process and loathing yourself for failing.

And then not wanting to come back to meditation and being ashamed of not being disciplined enough.

Don't do this to yourself.

That's the Path to Inner Prison, not Freedom.

Instead, invest 5 minutes of your precious time into being with something that melts your heart.

- Go for a hike.

- Water your plants.

- Kiss your kids.

- Hug your dog.

And if you want to meditate, do a gratitude practice.

Choose 3 things you are grateful for, and breathe for one minute with each of them.

Remember every vivid detail of why you love that special thing or being.

Allow your heart to open and expand in the flow of appreciation.

The current of connection you feel between you and that which you are grateful for is the current of Life itself.

And that's the true essence of mediation - being in connection and flow, giving and receiving. In relationship with Infinity and Vastness.

Beating yourself up doesn't bring you closer to Infinity. Receiving the gifts that it created for you does.

P.S. Today and tomorrow, I will be recording a couple of guided audio meditations, including one on gratitude.

If you want them, share your email address with me (link in comments), and I will send them to you.